Microsoft saves storage space in favor of a fast installation process when installing Windows 11 for the first time. For this, some of the in-house apps (“built-in”) now require an Internet connection when the new operating system is started for the first time . Various “preinstalled” apps do not start without internet.
Built-in apps only as placeholders in the menu
As the website ghacks.net first reported, some of the preinstalled apps, the so-called “built-in apps” or “inbox apps”, are not actually preinstalled on Windows 11 after an installation without internet access, they just have them an icon that acts as a placeholder in the start menu or the taskbar. Only when the app is initially started is it downloaded and installed from the Microsoft servers. This is intended to keep installation media “slim” and to be able to install Windows 11 (report) more quickly.
The following built-in apps that do not have Internet connection cannot be started:
- Microsoft To-Do
- Microsoft Alarm & amp; Clock
- Microsoft Sticky Notes
- Microsoft Cards
Before starting the apps for the first time, they display a message stating that an update must be installed first. Without an internet connection, it will not continue at this point and the app refuses to start.
This behavior does not apply to other apps such as Calendar, Photos, Paint, Groove Music or Microsoft Edge .
If, on the other hand, Windows 11 (requirements) is already installed with an existing Internet connection, all built-in apps are ready for use when started for the first time. The reloading of the apps from the Internet therefore only becomes apparent with a pure offline installation of the operating system.
Compared to a new installation of Windows 10, Windows 11 is once again clear installed faster on the SSD or hard drive, which Microsoft is right with regard to the more compact installation medium.
It starts on October 5th
Windows 11 will start on October 5th on new PCs and will be flanked by the Microsoft Office 2021 program collection with a new dark mode.
The operating system can currently be tried out with Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.194 in the Beta Channel and Build 22458, which already goes beyond the RTM status, in the Dev Channel.